The safety of the residents of the CNMI remains the top priority of the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation. With approximately 96.7% of the CNMI’s eligible population fully vaccinated, combined with the expansion of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster shot eligibility to 12- to 17-year-olds, the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and the CHCC is updating its quarantine protocols in accordance with U.S. Centers for Disease and Control’s guidance.
Effective Monday, January 10, 2022, quarantine length for unvaccinated travelers will be shortened to five (5) days after testing out negative on day 5. Unvaccinated inbound travelers are required to quarantine in a designated government facility for five (5) days, and will not be tested on arrival but will be tested before leaving quarantine.
All fully vaccinated inbound travelers will be tested for COVID-19 on arrival. This applies to children ineligible for a COVID-19 vaccine but are residing in a fully vaccinated household. Fully vaccinated travelers will be tested at the port of entry and are allowed to wait for their test result in their home/lodging. While waiting for the results of their COVID-19 test, the traveler must quarantine at home or lodging until results are received. No 5th-day test is required for fully vaccinated travelers.
All travelers and residents are reminded to live COVID-19 safe: follow the 3 W’s (wear your mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance); avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces; cover
coughs and sneezes; clean and disinfect high touch surfaces daily; be alert for symptoms daily; and get tested for COVID-19.
Any individual who tests positive for COVID-19 will be quarantined in the designated government facility for 10 days, starting after their test result date. Home isolation protocols are available if an individual can provide evidence that they can home isolate safely for 10 days, without putting others in the household at risk of infection. If it is determined that the individual cannot safely isolate at home (e.g., they live with a family member who has underlying health conditions or is immunocompromised), isolation at the designated government facility will be ordered.
Please see the attached release for more information.